To cut emissions, Maharashtra tells brick kiln units to run only one furnace at a time

August 29, 2018

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The decision is in keeping in line with the Centre’s directive asking states to frame regulations for emissions. The rules were revised in 2016 but were not implemented due to resistance from brick-makers and those who are part of the real estate industry. A delegation of brick-makers also met environment minister Ramdas Kadam to voice their concerns. However, the government has decided to implement the rules from this year. The brick-making units will start functioning after monsoon and the rules will be implemented, said an official.

“The new rule will reduce emissions at these units by 25%,” Kadam told TOI. “We have already made it mandatory for units producing more than 50,000 bricks to seek a clearance from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). But now, we are considering regulating smaller units too. At present, small units function by self-certification,” said an official.

In Maharashtra, most brick kiln units are in rural areas but many are located in Thane, Palghar, Vasai and Virar. Brick kilns cannot be established within 200m radius of a settlement of 1,000 people or from highways. The new rules specify that now, these units cannot function on eco-sensitive zones, national parks, sanctuaries, reserved and protected forests and hill stations. World heritage sites and certified residential areas are also on the list of places where brick kilns cannot be set up. Senior MPCB officials said that these units are traditional units with barely any infrastructure to treat emissions that they release and so, at least regulating the number of furnaces they operate will help reduce the pollution they create.

The MPCB officials said that there is also a huge health hazard which the workers who work in these units face, but that the local administration, labour officers should basically also look into.